Mixing vessel and deflector therefor



Sept; 28, 1948.

F. uBosTwlcK MIXING VE SSEL AND DEFLECTOR THEREFOR s sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 21,1945

INVENTOR F350 3 Boszm'cx 42 A f0 rnez/ Sept. 28, 1948. F. D. BosTw'|cK 2,450,107

MIXING VESSEL ANb DEELECTOR THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VINVENTOR.

F221) 2 fiasz'u vcx Sept. 28, 1948. F. p. BOSTWICK MIXING VESSEL AND DEFLECTOR THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG- 4 INVENTOR.

FE ED D. EosTu/mx Patented Sept. 28, 1948 MIXING VESSEL AND DEFLEGTOR THEREFOR Fred B. Bostwick, Thiensville, Wi's';, assignor to O; Smith Corporatiom.Milwaukee, Wis a:

corporation of New York Application May 21, 1945, SerialNo; 594,965

4 Claims. (Cl. 259-97) 1 This invention relates to a mixingvessel and deflector for mixing and agitating fluids, and has particular reference to a deflector-that is used as'a pressure and flow deflector as well as a wear plate to protect the wall of the receptacle or vessel.

In mixing'andagitating binary combinations ofmatter; the matter churned by the stirrer r agitator is caused to cavitate with a resulting lossof efficiency in accomplishing a proper mixingt This is especially true if solids are present in. the matter beinggmixed and where propeller, impeller and turbine type of equipment is employed;

The'prin'cipal objectof'the invention is to provide a mixingvessel with a deflector that interrupts and destroys cavitation and therebyimproves the efliciency of mixing the binary contents of the receptacle in which the deflector is used.

Another'object is to provide a deflector that breaksup" the solids and semi-solids in the matterbeing mixed and which distributes and divides any gas included therein and mixes the liquids and'gas.

A further object is to provide a deflector which isadjustable' to permit changing'the angle of flow of material thereagainst.

Another" objectis to provide a" deflector that isreadily removable from a receptacle and which can be easily employed in a number of diii'erent receptacles.

A further object is to provide a deflector that can be made to lit at substantially any position in a mixing tank.

Another object is to provide a deflector that will enhance the scrubbing action in mixing gases and liquids.

Another ob ect is to provide a deflector that will equalize flow in' substantially all directions.

Another obj'ect is to provide a deflectorthat serves as'a wear plate in deflecting material being mix'ed to prevent washing off of a protective coating such as the products of corr'osion normally adhering to the shell of thevessel.

Other objects and advantages of thein'vention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several embodments of the invention and'the views of the drawings are as follows: V

Figure 1 is avertical sectional view of a m xing and agitating receptacle with the deflector disposed therein;

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the deflector of Fig ure- 1- removed from 'the receptacle;

Fig. 31s a sectional view taken on line 3 -3lof Fig. 2 and showing the adjustment-of the-zlouvers;

Fig; 41s. a vertical sectionalview of a vessel similar to Figure lshowing 'several deflectors =secured to the vessel shell; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the deflector at the righthandside oft'he" vessel of Fig. 4;

The mixing and agitating receptacle or vessel comprises agenerallycylindrical. shell I with the bottom-end thereof curvedand'formed closed, the upper end being closed by theremovable cover 2. The bolts 3 secure'tlo'ecover ltoaflange at the top endportion of 'shell l'to enable ready removal of the cover.

A draft tube 4 is supported withinthe-shell I by'a plurality of depending columns 5 ,-thelower ends of Which'are secured'to the draft tube 4 While theupper ends thereof extend through the cover 2 and arebolted thereto. The draft tube is shown as'located toone side of i the vessel; it might however be locatedin the center of the vessel or at any-other position therein;

A- propeller shaft G-extends'throu'gh a suitable bearing openinginthe-cover 2 in linewith the center of draft tubal. The outer end'of'prop'ell'er shaft 6" is suitablyconnected to a motor unit- 1' disposed above the'coverfi and provided to rotate shaft '6;

The inner end of shaft d'extends a substantial distance within the draft tube landis iournaled for rotation in the bearing-"8 The hearing 8 is supported against thewallof the tube ll'by the rods 9 extending radially betweenthe tube walland thebearing and suitably secured to the same;

An agitating" screw or propeller [0' is secured to the shaft 6 ate; line slightly upwardly removed from; the bearings and has dimensions toperm-it rotation thereof w'it'hin'the draft tube 4' when shaft 6 is rotated by the'motor unit-'1';

The columns 5'support ng the draft tube 4 may addit onally be supported withimthevessel adiacent the upper; end portionby the gusset plates II.

The agitating receptacle mayalso beprovlded with a dip pipe" I! which extendsthrougha bearin'g'o oening' in the cover'z and is" employedin removal ofth'e contentsofthe vessel. A thermostat c unit l3 mayalsobe provided.

Both ends'oftube 4 are below the liqui'd'l'evel in the'vessel'and the propeller" H! by rotating is adapted to c rculate liquid preferablydownwardly through the tube.

F gure 1 illustrates a deflector-' H! spaced fr'om the bottom end of the draft tube -andisecured 3 thereto by a plurality of straps l5 extending between the deflector and tube. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the deflector l4 removed from the mixing receptacle.

The deflector [4 comprises a square-shaped frame I6 provided with a pair of diagonal cross pieces I! that divide the deflector into four triangular-shaped segments. The deflector may be of any shape such as square, oblong, round or elliptica1 and the frame l6 thereof may be distorted to accommodate space and application or both. The cross pieces I! may be entirely eliminated.

In the deflector illustrated, a plurality of louvers or vanes H3 or the like of diiferent lengths extend between the diagonal pieces l! at spaced locations and the ends of the louvers are journaled in suitable bearings in the pieces IT. The louvers l8 may be secured within the deflector at a fixed angle of deflection. However, if the louvers are journaled in the pieces I! as described they may be adjusted to change the angle of deflection of the contents of the receptacle or be completely closed to prevent flow of the vessel contents within a given area- The louvers 18 are adjusted by any suitable device. The device illustrated comprises a rod 19 which is hinged to each louver located in a respective segment and extends from the longest louver adjacent the frame I6 of the deflector to' the shortest louver adjacent the intersection of the diagonal cross pieces H.

The outer end of rod I9 is connected by the crank 2!] to the gear 2| which rotates on a shaft disposed Within the bracket 22 secured to the louvers of each segment may be separately operated. In the illustration of the deflector the louvers iii of each segment of the deflector M are disposed at different angles. The angles of the louvers of each segment may be the same to equalize the flow of the contents of the vessel in all directions or the angles of deflection may be different if desired.

It will ordinarily be desirable to locate the lou vers at an angle so that matter being mixed or agitated by the propeller l0 and driven through the deflector is directed away from direct impact with the shell I of the receptacle. In this manner the deflector l4 not only assists in breaking up the matter being mixed but also controls the flow thereof to operate as a wear plate in preventin the vessel contents from being driven directly against the shell I. The protective coating of corrosion products normally adhering to the shell is not washed off and remains to prevent corrosion thereof.

With the construction illustrated in Figure 1 the bolts 3 securing the cover 2 to the shell I may be removed to enable the cover to be lifted and the entire mixing apparatus located within the vessel to be readily removed, including the deflector M, the draft tube 4, the propeller I 0 and the drive shaft 6 for cleaning or use in another receptacle. The dip pipe 12 and thermostatic unit l3 are also removed when the cover 2 is lifted from the shell I.

Figure 4 illustrates several other types of deflectors that may be secured within a mixing and agitating receptacle. The deflector of the inventtion may be employed with or without a draft tube. The deflector 25 located at the left-hand side of the vessel and secured to the shell I in general is similar to the deflector I4 except that the frame 16 is angular and the louvers l8 are fixed within the frame at a predetermined angle. Although the deflector 25 may be fixed to the vessel wall it is shown as held by the bracket 26 which is attached to the vessel wall. This per- I mits the deflector 25 to be readily removed.

The deflector 21 disposed at the right hand side of the receptacle at a spaced location beneath the draft tube 28 illustrates a deflector in which the frame 29 is turned diagonally upwardly at the outer end thereof. The deflector 2'! is secured to the shell I by the brackets 33 and is also attached to the draft tube 28 by the straps 3|. The tube 28 here is secured to the shell wall by a plurality of tubes 32. Neither the draft tube 28 nor the deflector 21 is removable.

The louvers 33 of the deflector 27' are located within the frame 29 at a predetermined fixed angle. However, the louvers 33 may be adjustable to diiferent angles by an operating device similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The deflector of the invention illustrated in the several embodiments shown and described substantial-1y enhances mixing and agitating operations by intercepting and interrupting cavitation by the matter being mixed in the receptacle. The louvers break up solids and semi-solids and at the same time the deflector acts as a wear plate in directing the contents being mixed away from the shell.

With the deflector M illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 no heat is lost through the deflector by transfer to the shell of the vessel and the deflector is readily removed from the vessel. A single deflector may be employed in a mixing receptacle or a number may be employed to interrupt cavitation and effect an eflicient mixing of the contents. The deflector finds particular importance when abrasive material is being melted or dissolved under the influence of agitation and cooking.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims.-

I claim:

1. In a vessel for mixing and agitating materials, means to stir the contents of the vessel, and a deflector disposed in the flow stream of the materials and comprising a frame formed of four outer members joined together and a pair of cross pieces extending diagonally from opposite corners of said frame and intersecting centrally of the frame, a plurality of louvers spaced apart and extending between said cross pieces to divide the deflector into four triangular segments, and means secured to the louvers of each segment to locate the louvers at various predetermined angles of deflection.

'2. In a receptacle for mixing binary combinations of matter having a generally thin shell closed at the bottom and closed at the top by a removable cover, a draft tube disposed within said vessel beneath the level of material to be mixed therein and suspended from said cover by a plura! ity of support members, a propeller member disposed for rotation in said draft tube, a shaft having one end portion secured to said propeller and the other end portion extending through said cover and secured for rotation therein, a motor disposed above said cover to drive said shaft and propeller, and a deflector suspended from said drait tube and spaced axially from the bottom of the draft tube and also from the shell of the receptacle, said deflector having a plurality of louvers disposed at predeterm-ined angles of deflection to interrupt the axial flow of the contents of the receptacle therethrough by the propeller and prevent direct impact of the contents with the shell of said receptacle.

3. In a receptacle for mixing binary combinations of matter having a generally thin shell formed closed at the bottom and closed at the top by a removable cover, a draft tube disposed within said vessel beneath the level of the materials therein and suspended from said cover by a plurality of support members. a propeller member disposed for rotation in said draft tube, a shaft having one end portion secured to said propeller and the other end portion extending through said cover and secured for rotation therein, a motor disposed above said cover to drive said shaft and propeller, a deflector spaced axially from the bottom of said draft tube and secured thereto, and means to secure said draft tube and deflector to the receptacle shell in spaced relation thereto, said deflector having a frame with an outer portion turned diagonally upwardly complementary to the curvature of the shell of the receptacle and a plurality of louvers disposed therebetween and attached thereto in flow deflecting position to interrupt the flow of the contents of said tank driven axially therethereby deflect the shell through by said impeller, and contents away from direct impact with the of the receptacle.

4. In a receptacle for mixing and agitating binary combinations of matter having a draft tube spaced from the wall of the receptacle with a propeller supported for rotation therein to direct the matter being mixed in a flow stream through the draft tube and throughout the receptacle, a deflector disposed slightly outwardly axially from the exit of said draft tube and spaced from the wall of said receptacle, said deflector comprising a plurality of louvers secured in spaced relation to each other and mounted for adjustment in angular flow deflecting position to change the direction of flow of the fluid discharged from the draft tube into an angular flow gradually directed away from the wall of the receptacle.

FRED D. BOSTWICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

